Rocket Money is an app that can help you manage your finances, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and negotiate your current bills. In addition to subscription management, it allows you to monitor your credit and net worth.

The budgeting features sync with your accounts, allowing you to categorize your transactions against your budget easily.

There is a free plan and a “pay-what’s-fair” plan that costs between $6 and $12 per month.

At a Glance

• Subscription management and cancelation services
• Bill negotiation services
• Budgeting features
• Credit and net worth tracking
• Free and paid plan available

Who should use Rocket Money

Rocket Money’s best features are the subscription management and the bill negotiation service. If you struggle to overcome the friction of canceling unwanted subscriptions, Rocket Money is a must. It will pull all your subscriptions into one place. On the free plan, it gives step-by-step instructions on how to cancel and will cancel them for you on the paid plan.

The bill negotiation service is available on both plans; you’ll pay a percentage of your savings.

Alternatives to Rocket Money

Primary service	Budgeting	Net worth tracking	Bill negotiation
Pricing	$14.99 monthly or $109 annually	Free	50% of annual savings
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What Is Rocket Money?

Rocket Money is a budgeting app for Android and Apple devices. 

There are both Free and Premium plans, each with various perks. 

Some of the member perks include:

• Account tracking
• Subscription management
• Balance alerts
• Subscription cancellation assistant
• Bill negotiation
• Budgeting
• Credit score tracking
• Net worth tracking

You’ll get the most from Rocket Money if you use it to monitor your spending and the subscription management tools. Its free tools make it an ideal budgeting app, but the premium subscription remains affordable if you don’t need hands-on budgeting help.

Go to Rocket Money

How Does Rocket Money Work?

You can follow these steps to join Rocket Money:

1. Download the Android or Apple mobile app
2. Link your financial accounts
3. Analyze spending habits
4. Look for ways to save money
5. Create budgeting and savings goals
6. Monitor financial progress with regular updates.

Rocket Money Features

Account Syncing

Rocket Money links your banking, credit card, and investment accounts through Plaid. This third-party service has read-only access and doesn’t store your sensitive details for extra privacy. 

Your account balances update daily the first time you log into your account. The app will send spending insights and alerts when direct deposits hit your account. Linking as many accounts as possible makes it easy to see how much you spend and earn accurately. 

After linking your accounts, you can begin categorizing your transactions. Rocket Money auto-categorizes most transactions, so the ongoing maintenance requirements are minimal.

Manage Subscriptions

This feature is one of Rocket Money’s most useful features.

You may intuitively have a ballpark estimate about your fixed living expenses, such as utility bills, food, and childcare. What about your subscriptions? Especially subscriptions that bill annually. It’s very easy to forget about these bills until it’s too late, and you’ve accidentally paid for another year.

After linking your accounts, Rocket Money looks through your transaction history for recurring subscriptions and lists them in one place so you can easily see them.

This feature is a good exercise in determining which services you regularly use and the others you can live without. 

Bill Cancellation

Premium subscribers can have the app cancel subscriptions on their behalf. Free users will receive step-by-step directions to stop service, which can save you time despite doing the hard work yourself.

This feature is helpful if you’re the type to keep putting off canceling because it takes too long or — if you’re like me — you aren’t exactly sure how to do it, so you just don’t. 

Go to Rocket Money

Bill Negotiation

All subscribers can see if Rocket Money will negotiate your existing bills for a lower rate. This is an excellent exercise to practice at least once a year for services you can’t live without to ensure you’re paying the best price.

Some of the best savings opportunities include:

• Cable or satellite TV
• Home Internet
• Postpaid phone plans (i.e., Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile)
• Satellite Radio
• Newspapers

Cable bills and contract cell phone plans have the most potential for discounts. The bill negotiator may see if they can switch you to a newer plan that has the same features as your existing plan but is cheaper. There may also be loyalty bonuses or limited-time promotions that can reduce your bill for the following year. 

The service claims to have an 85% success rate in lowering your bills. You pay a one-time success fee and get to decide how much of the first year of savings to contribute as payment.

Rocket Money can also try to save money on these expenses:

• Car insurance
• Bank overdraft fees
• Bill payment late fees

Budgeting Features

In addition to real-time spending alerts and direct deposit notifications, Rocket Money lets you create a simple spending plan. The budgeting tools are not as powerful as some free budgeting tools, but they can help you quickly see if you’re living within your means for the month.

This budgeting app generates a monthly report summarizing your spending and income patterns. It’s also possible to analyze these topics throughout the month:

• Bills paid
• Current spending
• The income left for savings.
• Money left for spending
• Monthly earnings so far

Most reports are available on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly period.

Premium members can create unlimited budgets and use account sharing so you can budget with another premium member.

Smart Savings

Premium subscribers can use the Smart Savings feature to contribute to their savings goals automatically. You can decide how much to save and how frequently to withdraw from your linked checking account. 

To prevent account overdrafts, the service skips withdrawals when you have insufficient funds in your account. 

Your cash goes into an FDIC-insured account until you’re ready to spend it. Unfortunately, you may not earn interest on these deposits. Instead, consider a high-yield savings account to make money on your short-term savings. 

Go to Rocket Money

Net Worth Tracker

Premium members can also track your net worth through your linked accounts. This feature may not be as essential as budgeting or tracking spending, but it’s another way to monitor your financial progress.

There are more powerful net worth tracking tools, but Rocket Money does an adequate job.

Credit Score Monitoring

Free users can view their Experian VantageScore 3.0 credit score for free. The app refreshes your score monthly. Although this isn’t the same score that most lenders use to make credit decisions (that would be the FICO Score from the Fair Isaac Corporation), it will give you a good estimate of your creditworthiness.

You can also see areas of improvement that can help you achieve a good credit score. However, free subscribers won’t be able to access their credit report.

Premium members can view their full Experian credit report. This report updates monthly, so be sure to access it regularly to avoid missing an update.

This is a nice feature, and it helps assess your complete financial picture. Keep in mind there are several ways to check your credit score for free with more constant updates. Other credit monitoring services may retrieve your score from more credit bureaus and possibly offer your FICO Score.

Rocket Money Pricing

Two different membership plan options are available: Lite and Premium. Pricing for Lite is free, and Premium is $3 – $12 but features a “Pay What’s Fair” option, which I’ll explain in more detail below.

A 7-day free trial is available on the Premium plan.

Free

The Lite plan is the standard option and is free for life. 

Its benefits can get the job done and include the following:

• Account linking
• Balance alerts
• Subscription management
• Spend tracking
• Daily account syncing

The free plan is best if you want to monitor your spending and account balances but don’t need hands-on help canceling or negotiating a lower price for recurring bills. 

The budgeting tools are limited to two categories, which can be sufficient to avoid overspending on your most significant monthly expenses.

Premium: $6-12 / month

The Premium plan offers a 7-day free trial, and then you choose to pay between $6 and $12 per month. This app follows a “Pay What’s Fair” strategy, so you can decide how much to spend.

According to Rocket Money, the average paid user pledges $6.99 monthly.

To help you decide if Rocket Money Premium is worth it, these are the available perks:

• Unlimited budgets
• Credit score and full credit report (vs. credit score only)
• Automated subscription cancellations
• Bill cancellation concierge
• Net worth tracking
• Real-time account syncing (vs. daily syncing)
• Shared accounts
• Premium chat
• Export data

You might want to upgrade to the premium plan if you want unlimited budgets, shared accounts, or automated subscription management tools.

Go to Rocket Money

Is Rocket Money Safe?

Yes, Rocket Money is a safe way to monitor your banking account transactions, look for ways to reduce spending, and track your credit score.

Most personal finance software apps use the same third-party service (Plaid) to connect to your accounts. This software doesn’t store personal information on its servers and uses bank-level security to protect your account. In addition, when you need to share your data with others, you can scramble it for additional privacy.

Alternatives to Rocket Money

Rocket Money can help improve your finances, but these other services can be better if you need hands-on help with a specific need. If none of these sound good, also check out our list of the best budgeting apps for couples.

You Need A Budget (YNAB)

If you want a serious budget and to stop living paycheck to paycheck, You Need A Budget (YNAB) is an excellent option. YNAB isn’t free, though; it costs $14.99 monthly or $109 annually, but there is a 34-day free trial to see if it’s a good fit.

The YNAB budget follows a zero-based budget approach, assigning each dollar to a specific task. So, you have to plan to spend or save every dollar you make, which is a well-tested and effective budgeting method.

The app walks you through the budgeting process and reviews many monthly expenses that are easily overlooked with basic budgeting tools like Rocket Money or Mint.

The spending and net worth reports are also robust. There are also several financial calculators to help you plan upcoming goals.

For more information, check out our full YNAB review.

Go to YNAB

Empower Personal Dashboard

Empower Personal Dashboard is arguably the best free net worth tracker available today, as you can link all of your banking and brokerage accounts and add manual accounts. The service includes basic spend tracking tools to categorize transactions and ensure you live within your means.

Creating savings goals and reviewing your investment portfolio’s asset allocation and fund fees is also possible. It has a suite of planning tools that are useful for retirement planning, but they will try to sell you on their wealth management services.

Read our Empower Personal Dashboard review for more information.

Go to Empower

BillCutterz

BillCutterz can negotiate your existing bills on your behalf, and you only pay if it saves you money. BillCutterz can save you on bills such as, cell phone, cable, internet, satellite radio, and more. It takes about 48 hours after you submit the bill to find out if you’ve received any savings.

BillCutterz charges 50% of the annual savings it negotiates for you. For example, if they save you $20 a month on your cell phone bill, they will charge $10 per month for 12 months or $120. You can pay monthly or get a 10% discount by paying in full right away.

Go to BillCutterz

FAQs

Is Rocket Money Worth It?

Rocket Money can be an effective way to make a free budget if you want to track spending easily and don’t need hands-on help. The paid subscription can be worth it if you need unlimited budgeting access and other money-saving tools. The “Pay What’s Fair” option makes it an even better value.

But while the app has several additional features, not everyone will find them all useful. If you’re looking for more in-depth tools for budgeting or tracking your spending, consider other options, such as YNAB or Personal Capital, in addition to Rocket Money.

Since it is free, it doesn’t hurt to try it out. You can also test drive the premium services to see if you find value in them.

The post Rocket Money Review: Is Rocket Money Safe? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Anyone who trades stocks and pays attention to technical analysis knows how valuable a good stock screener can be. But with dozens of stock screeners to choose from, how do you find one that’s right for you?

Finviz is a popular choice for beginner and experienced investors alike, offering features like charts, heat maps, insider trading, and portfolio tracking.

In this Finviz review, I dive into everything Finviz has to offer, including its key tools and pricing. I also share a few Finviz alternatives.

At a Glance

• Beginner-friendly technical analysis of U.S. stocks
• Lots of features on the free plan
• Free plan allows up to 50 portfolios and 50 tickers per portfolio
• Paid plan allows up to 100 portfolios and 500 tickers per portfolio

Finviz Alternatives

Free plan	No	Yes	No
Pricing	starts at $249 per year	starts at $239 per year	starts at $79.99 per year
Proprietary ratings	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What Is Finviz?

Finviz, which is short for Financial Visualizations, is an investment research site that can help you find investment ideas or dig deep into a specific ticker. You can use it for technical and fundamental analysis.

You can research the following asset types:

• U.S. stocks and ETFs
• Forex
• Futures
• Crypto

Finviz is one of the better free stock analysis tools because of its extensive, beginner-friendly tools, plus a surprising amount of data, which are generally behind a paywall with other platforms.

The technical research features go further than most online stock brokerages, which are great for fundamental analysis and typically offer in-depth charting, too.

Finviz Features

Finviz offers multiple research tools to help you evaluate potential investments and monitor your current positions. Here’s a closer look at its key features.

Homepage

The Finviz homepage makes it easy to digest what’s happening in the market and is divided into the following sections:

• Current trading day performance for the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow
• Top-performing and worst-performing stocks of the day
• Tickers with a trading price near a certain trading pattern (wedge, triangle)
• Headlines
• Market calendar
• Latest insider trading
• Earnings release dates
• Futures
• Forex and bonds

Other discount brokerages or advanced trading platforms may offer similar details, but with Finviz, anybody can access this information without creating an account.

The page layout is easy to understand thanks to the distinguishable categories and red or green performance indicators. Scanning the homepage can be an excellent way to monitor the market and decide where to start researching.

Stock Screener

Finviz’s stock screener makes it easy to compare U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, although you cannot compare ADR and OTC stocks or commodity stocks where the common stock trades on foreign exchanges.

Despite its limitations with common stocks, Finviz has many free and premium research tools. You can screen stocks through customizable filters, including:

• Descriptive: Exchange, industry sector, dividend yield, average volume, etc.
• Fundamental: P/E ratio, price-to-sales, insider transactions, EPS growth, etc.
• Technical: Simple moving average (20-day, 50-day, 200-day), RSI, etc.

You can select filters from the descriptive, fundamental, and technical tabs to see a list of stocks matching the criteria below.

From there, you can choose different tabs to compare the stocks by various metrics, such as:

• Valuation (P/E ratio, PEG ratio, and other investment ratios)
• Financial (Dividend rate, return on equity, gross margin, profit margin)
• Ownership (Outstanding valuation, insider ownership percentage, float short)
• Performance (Investment returns for the past week, month, quarter, year)
• Technical (Simple Moving Average, RSI, price change from open, gap)

Viewing the charts, heat maps, and news headlines for screened stocks is also possible.

Charting

Many stock trading apps have impressive charting tools that let you perform technical analysis and buy stock shares on the same platform, but many overlook research tools in favor of free trades and micro-investing.

Consider charting stocks in Finviz when your go-to investing app only offers a basic historical price chart. 

All users can view prices on daily, weekly, or monthly trading intervals. You can also adjust the candlestick display to your preferred setting, making it easier to spot trends.

Several basic upper and lower indicators automatically display on each chart:

• 20-day simple moving average (SMA)
• 50-day SMA
• 200-day SMA
• Volume

It’s important to note that you must upgrade to FINVIZ*Elite to overlay with over 100 technical indicators, have drawing capabilities, and view in full screen. You can also see if a paper trading simulator offers the features to test short-term strategies.

Heat Maps

The visually appealing heat maps feature lets you view the performance of individual stocks and ETFs. Companies are organized by industry (technology, communication services, healthcare, energy, railroads).

Bigger boxes indicate a larger market cap. A green shade suggests the stock trades at a higher price for the trading day, while a red hue is for lower pricing.

Extending the performance interval from one day to a year is possible. You can track year-to-date performance too.

The map can track additional metrics such as:

• P/E ratio
• Float short
• Dividend yield
• Analyst recommendations
• Earnings date

You can also filter the stock listings by S&P 500 or ETF.

The world filter displays a global map and places the stock ticker where the company headquarters are.

Groups

The Groups feature highlights the performance of sectors over a specific trading range. You can compare the performance of various industries, such as energy, finance, and real estate.

It’s also possible to look at the performance of subsectors within a particular industry. One example is comparing the performance of oil and gas exploration to midstream providers by selecting the Energy industry.

The color-coded bar charts make it easy to gauge the performance of a sector. Some of the graphs also break down the results by the underlying companies, which can make your research even easier.

To further explore an industry or sector, simply tap the chart row, and a separate tab opens with the screener page for the underlying stocks.

Portfolio

The Finviz portfolio tracker can help you monitor the performance of your holdings and watchlist positions.

Free accounts can make 50 different portfolios, and premium members can create up to 100. Being able to create so many lineups is a nice feature and helps personalize your user experience for research purposes.

Trackable metrics include:

• Current market value
• Total loss or gain
• Today’s performance

You can also evaluate your portfolio using interactive and portfolio-related heat maps.

One potential drawback is having to input each position detail manually. Accurate tracking means entering the acquisition date, average purchase price, and position size. Additionally, the tracking tools are relatively basic in several aspects.

Other portfolio trackers are better in this regard, as they can automatically upload your details, giving you more time to research investments.

Watchlists

Finviz recently added a watchlist feature to help you monitor potential investments within one of your Finviz portfolios.

When inspecting a stock or ETF, click “add to portfolio.” Next, you can choose “Watch” under the transaction type, with “Buy” and “Sell Short” being the other two options.

News

Many free and premium stock research services aggregate news headlines. You can see ticker-specific headlines or scan the “News” or “Blogs” columns to get a gist of what’s happening and potentially learn something new.

Many articles are free, but others hide behind the paywall or require a subscription after maxing out your monthly allotment of free articles.

You can access articles from the following outlets through Finviz:

• Bloomberg
• Fox Business
• MarketWatch
• Mish Talk
• New York Times
• Reuters
• Zerohedge

For investors who love staying on top of stock news, Finviz is one of the best ways to scan the headlines for free.

Insider Trading

If a company’s senior leadership buys or sells shares, it can indicate how the share price will trend. Corporate executives periodically sell shares and exercise options to receive monetary compensation. Still, there are times when their actions can encourage you to dig deeper in case you want to follow their lead.

These details are free to access as executives must file forms with the federal government disclosing sizable trades.

You can filter the data in the following ways:

• Latest insider trading (lists the most recent trades first)
• Top insider trading recent week (biggest trades by nominal value)
• Top 10% owner trading recent week (largest transactions from investors with a minimum 10% ownership stake)

Tracking down this data without the help of a service like Finviz can be time-consuming. You may also find that you overlook reported trades as you try to track several executives.

Futures

Investors who like to trade commodities or stock futures will find Finviz’s Futures feature helpful as you can view price quotes, performance, and charts for these investment options:

• Indices (DJIA, Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000, DAX, VIX, etc.)
• Bonds (Treasury Bonds: 2-year, 5-year, 10-year, 30-year)
• Currencies (USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CAD, CHF, AUD, NZD)
• Energy (Brent crude oil, WTI crude oil, natural gas, gasoline)
• Grains (Corn, oats, soybeans, wheat) 
• Meats (Live cattle, feeder cattle, lean hogs)
• Metals (Gold, silver, platinum, copper, palladium)
• Softs (Cocoa, coffee, cotton, lumber, orange juice, sugar)

Forex

Aggressive forex traders can retrieve the pricing for currency pairs between international currencies. You can view the price chart at intervals of five minutes, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.

Most comparisons measure the performance of a foreign currency to the U.S. dollar (USD). The research tools are relatively basic compared to the platform’s stock screener and heat maps, which more investors will probably use to buy long or sell short.

Crypto

If you dabble in cryptocurrency, you can easily see price quotes for highly traded tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Most quotes price the token in U.S. dollars and Euros.

Clicking on a price quote lets you view a basic price chart consisting of a 5-minute to one-year increment. Similar to stock charts, you will need to be an elite member to customize the chart display and indicators. These price quotes and charts can complement those offered by crypto portfolio trackers.

Alerts

Receive free alerts when a stock or ETF performs a specific action, such as:

• Crossing above or below a target trading price
• Fundamental or technical metrics
• Becomes overbought or oversold
• Significant insider trading

Premium members can receive alerts based on real-time data, while free users may need to rely on delayed inputs.

Backtests

Backtesting is one of the best reasons to upgrade to a paid membership. Portfolio analysis tools like Finviz can track your actual investment performance but also see how adjustments could change your historical performance.

While nobody knows how the stock market will perform in the future, backtesting lets you test your portfolio against similar market conditions so you can be prepared for more situations.

This service tests your portfolio against 24 years of historical information. You can also compare it against the SPY benchmark (S&P 500) and with 100 technical indicators.

How Much Does Finviz Cost?

Finviz offers two free plans and one paid membership tier. You may want to start with one of the free tiers to test out the platform to see if it’s worth upgrading.

Some investors will want to opt for the paid membership because of the ad-free experience, backtesting, and real-time price quotes.

Free

Anyone can use the stock screener and charting tools. You cannot save previous screens or track your portfolio, but you don’t have to provide your email address. This is uncommon, as many platforms want your contact details to market premium products.

Basic features include:

• Delayed quotes, charting, and streaming
• Maps and Groups are delayed 3 to 5 minutes.
• Three years’ access to statements
• Screener rows per page (20 tables/36 charts/10 snapshots)

Registered

Registering for a free account lets you save presets, track portfolio positions, and make basic customizations.

In addition to the Free tier features, you also get these perks:

• Portfolios: Up to 50 per user
• Tickers: Up to 50 per portfolio
• Screener presets: Up to 50
• Customization: Layout and signals

Creating up to 50 portfolios lets you track your investment returns for multiple strategies and thematic investing.

FINVIZ*Elite

FINVIZ*Elite is Finviz’s premium tier and is ideal for frequent traders and those who want full access to the program. You will pay $39.50 monthly or $299.50 yearly (that boils down to $24.96/month).

Upfront payment is necessary for either subscription plan, but you can request a full refund during the first 30 days. So, use the first month to test drive the platform.

Core benefits include:

• Real-time stock quotes (includes premarket and aftermarket data)
• Advanced charts (Intraday, overlays, drawing tools, full-screen layouts)
• Advanced screener (Data export, customized filters, statistics view)
• Correlations (Positive and inverse correlations between selected stocks and ETFs)
• Backtesting (24 years of historical data, 100 technical indicators)
• Alerts and notifications (Instant email and push notifications)
• Ad-free layout
• Eight years of financial statements (vs. three years for registered users)
• Up to 100 portfolios (vs. 50 portfolios for registered users)
• Up to 500 tickers per portfolio (vs. 50 tickers for registered users)
• Max 200 screener presets (vs. 50 for registered users)
• Screener rows per page (100/120 charts/50 snapshots)

Finviz Free vs. Elite

Whether you should stick with the free version of Finviz or upgrade to the elite tier depends on your research needs, current research tools, and trading frequency.

When to Use Finviz Free

The free version is best for casual investors who tend to be long-term holders or only place a few transactions yearly. Further, the free features are sufficient to monitor your current portfolio or keep an eye on the broad market.

Even if you trade frequently, you may use the screener to find watchlist candidates with your selected fundamental and technical metrics. Then, you can use your brokerage or standalone tools with better charting capabilities to research and place a trade.

When to Upgrade to Finviz*Elite

The premium membership is best for frequent traders who rely on real-time data and want advanced screening and charting tools. Getting the message box saying you need to upgrade to a paid subscription to continue researching is a nuisance.

The $300 annual fee is significant, and you will need to trade regularly and use the Finviz tools consistently to justify the price. Still, this fee is competitive with similar stock research apps and more affordable when purchasing an annual membership.

Alternatives to Finviz

The following websites are also excellent places to research potential investments and check up on current holdings. Before signing up with Finviz, I recommend checking out other platforms.

Morningstar Investor

Morningstar Investor is an appealing stock screener for fundamental investors. The screener contains over 200 filters to identify stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds matching your criteria. In addition, the Morningstar analyst team curates lists of the highest-rated stocks and funds for many categories, which serves as an excellent starting point.

A premium subscription also includes portfolio analysis and investment tracking tools that can help optimize your asset allocation and investment strategy. There is also much bullish and bearish commentary about the market and specific investments.

Read our Morningstar Investor review for more.

Learn More About Morningstar Investor

Seeking Alpha

Seeking Alpha has many overlapping research tools. You can read bullish and bearish commentary written by independent contributors for just about any stock and ETF. Finviz doesn’t really offer stock analysis but is better for researching stock metrics.

Seeking Alpha includes proprietary ratings that can make it easier to assess potential investments. Additionally, the premium version syncs with your brokerage accounts which saves time and prevents data input errors to quickly see the ratings of your holdings and track your investment performance.

You can learn about the differences between the free and premium memberships in our Seeking Alpha review, but compared to Finviz, the free research tools are somewhat limited.

Learn More About Seeking Alpha

Stock Rover

Fundamental investors and those with a buy-and-hold investment strategy may want to consider Stock Rover. Like Finviz, it’s got fundamental and technical stock screens, but the additional research tools cater to long-term investors instead of short-term traders.

Stock Rover’s customized stock screens can model legendary investors and prominent hedge funds, a unique feature. You can also read research reports and automatically sync your brokerage portfolios for effortless tracking and updates.

Four different plans are available, including a free membership. For more information, check out our Stock Rover review.

Learn More About Stock Rover

FAQs

Learn More About Finviz

Final Thoughts on Finviz

Finviz is an excellent stock research service that offers some of the best free research tools. It should be one of the first places you look for fundamental and technical analysis when you’re unsatisfied with your brokerage tools.

You can benefit from using Finviz whether you’re a short-term trader or long-term investor. It’s also an excellent research companion to investment newsletters, which provide a basic background for the monthly investment idea but still require further research before buying shares.

I don’t recommend Finviz if you prefer trading stocks from your phone since the site isn’t mobile-friendly and doesn’t have a stock screener app.

The post Finviz Review 2024: Is this Stock Screener App Worth it? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Depending on the platform, you can access in-depth historical data, charts, portfolio analyzers, and model portfolios to enhance your investment strategy seamlessly.

	Best for	Learn more
	Self-directed investors for nearly any trading strategy	Learn more
	Researching stocks and funds for long-term strategies	Learn more
	Fundamental stock screener and free stock research tools	Learn more
	Investors looking for specific stock recommendations	Learn more
	Long-term investors on a budget	Learn more
	Free investment portfolio tracking	Learn more

1. Seeking Alpha

Best for: Self-directed investors for nearly any trading strategy

• Price: Basic (free) or Premium ($4.95 for the first month and then $299/year)
• Free Trial: None 
• Stock Screener: Yes
• Model Portfolios: No
• Portfolio Analyzer: Yes 

Though you can start using the free version of Seeking Alpha, it has low monthly research limits and minimal tracking features. The Premium version is ideal if you research or trade several stocks each month since you can read unlimited research articles and have full access to exclusive stock ratings and stock screens. 

Most individual stocks have bullish and bearish commentary from independent analysts. The stock analysis will include specific ratings, like buy, strong buy, hold, or sell, giving you some insight into the security's standing. You can also quickly link your portfolios to access the latest ratings and research.

While Seeking Alpha Premium doesn’t provide specific stock recommendations, it offers stock screeners for fundamental and technical indicators and its in-house Quant Ratings. The Quant Ratings measure a stock’s performance potential by value, growth, profitability, and earnings-per-share (EPS) revisions.

Seeking Alpha Picks is an excellent add-on if you prefer a model portfolio to self-directed research instead. It provides two monthly picks curated from the best stocks with a “Strong Buy” rating. 

Though they don’t offer a free trial period, the first month is just $4.95. This budget-friendly trial allows you to test the tracker to ensure it’s the right choice. 

Here's our full Seeking Alpha Premium review for more information.

Go to Seeking Alpha

2. Morningstar Investor

Best for: Researching stocks and funds for long-term strategies

• Price: $34.95 per month or $249 per year ($20.75 per month equivalent)
• Free Trial: 7 days
• Stock Screener: Yes
• Model Portfolios: Best Investments Lists for stocks and funds
• Portfolio Analyzer: Yes 

Morningstar Investor is one of the most respected names in the investment industry and is ideal for fundamental analysis. You can thoroughly research stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with in-depth ratings, fair stock value assessment to its current trading price, and an independent analyst report. 

You can also seamlessly link multiple brokerage accounts to its program, taking advantage of professional-grade data and ratings. They’re well-known for providing Morningstar point ratings ranging from one star to five stars, making stock selection much more straightforward.

One of Morningstar's best-known features is its Portfolio X-Ray. This tool enables you to evaluate your positions from multiple angles and identify rebalancing opportunities. 

Meanwhile, you can also use the fundamental stock screener and “Best Investment Lists” for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds to sift through prospective investment ideas quickly.

Here's our full Morningstar Investor review for more information.

Go to Morningstar Investor

For a limited time, Morningstar Investor is discounted by $50!

It comes with a 7-day free trial so you can lock in your savings, try the service, and cancel if you don't think it's for you.

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3. Stock Rover

Best for: Fundamental stock screener and free stock research tools

• Price: $ 0 to $27.99 per month, depending on plan
• Free Trial: 14 days for Premium Plus
• Stock Screener: Yes
• Model Portfolio: Yes
• Portfolio Analyzer: Yes

Stock Rover offers robust fundamental stock analysis tools available through four different plans. Casual investors will appreciate the free plan, which provides in-depth insights and financial stats for over 8,500 North American stocks, 4,000 ETFs, and 40,000 mutual funds, plus automatic brokerage account syncing. 

Upgrading to a paid plan is necessary when you want access to a stock screener, model portfolios, portfolio analytics, charting tools, and analyst reports.

The three premium plan tiers include:

• Essentials: $7.99/month ($79.99/year) – Investment comparison, fully customizable financial views and columns, stock screening, portfolio and watch list tracking, and more than 260 metrics with five years of detailed historical data.
• Premium: $17.99/month ($179.99/year) – Essential features plus over 375 stock screening metrics and 90 ETF metrics with more than ten years of detailed financial history. You also get data export, over 100 charts of all financial metrics, advanced alerting, detailed portfolio analytics, and Monte Carlo portfolio simulation.
• Premium Plus: $27.99/month ($279.99/year) – Over 700 total metrics and custom metrics. It also comes with equation screening, historical data screening, unlimited stock ratings, stock fair value and margin of safety, investor warnings, and current and historical scoring for growth, value, quality, and sentiment. 

You get a 14-day free trial for the top-tier Premium Plus plan to decide whether it’s worth upgrading. If not, Stock Rover is one of the best free stock trackers.

Here's our full Stock Rover review for more information.

Go to Stock Rover

4. The Motley Fool Stock Advisor

Best for: Investors looking for specific stock recommendations 

• Price: $99 for the first year, then $199 per year
• Free Trial: 30-day membership fee back guarantee
• Stock Screener: Yes (for model portfolio holdings only)
• Model Portfolios: Two monthly stock picks
• Portfolio Analyzer: No 

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor is one of the top investment advisory services in the industry. Unlike the other stock trackers on this list, it’s a stock-picking service that makes two stock suggestions each month with the potential to outperform the S&P 500 for the next three to five years. 

Its extensive model portfolio with many open recommendations updates monthly to highlight other excellent investment options. New subscribers and long-term investors may also appreciate the list of 10 starter stocks that can serve as a foundation for most portfolios.   

The stock research tools are limited to the monthly recommendations, so it’s best if you prefer hands-on help with individual stock investing. The stock screener lists tickers by cautious, moderate, and aggressive risk tolerance. You’ll also enjoy access to dozens of stock reports written by Motley Fool investment experts and a library filled with investment articles to help new investors.

Instead of a free trial, the service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to see if it will work for you.

Here's our full Motley Fool Stock Advisor review for more information.

 *$99 is an introductory price for new members only. 50% discount based on current list price of Stock Advisor of $199/year. Membership will renew annually at the then-current list price.

Go to The Motley Fool Advisor

5. Ziggma

Best For: Long-term investors on a budget

• Price: $0, $9.90 monthly, or $89.88 yearly ($7.49 monthly)
• Free Trial: 7 Days on monthly and annual plans
• Stock Screener: No
• Model Portfolio: No
• Portfolio Analyzer: Yes

Ziggma provides a proprietary “Ziggma Score” for each holding in your linked portfolio or watchlist. Paid members receive an in-depth score and extra insights to compare 3,000 stocks.

Along with an impressive stock screener, you'll also enjoy complimentary access to stock pages listing key performance indicators by growth, valuation, profitability, and financial strength. The platform sources quarterly and annual data that is beneficial to fundamental investors.    

Notable premium plan features include saved stock screens, a top 50 stock list, model and guru portfolios, and a portfolio simulator. These various tools save time finding investment ideas and tracking stocks and funds you already keep an eye on.

This stock tracker is a better fit for long-term investors, but technical traders will find the screening and TradingView-powered charting tools helpful. 

Here's our full Ziggma review for more information.

Go to Wealthfront

6. Empower

Best for: Free investment portfolio tracking

• Price: Free for the basic financial aggregator, then 0.89% to 0.49% of your portfolio value (minimum $100,000) for the Wealth Management Service
• Free Trial: None
• Stock Screener: No
• Model Portfolio: No
• Portfolio Analyzer: Yes

Casual investors who primarily invest in funds and only own a handful of stocks may prefer Empower. The free financial aggregator lets you link all your banking and investment accounts to track your wealth-building progress and receive investing insights. 

After linking all of your accounts, you can track balance changes and, ultimately, your net worth. The platform will also provide cash flow, retirement planning, and investment reporting.

Your free investment portfolio review compares your investment performance to stock market benchmarks. It also takes a look at your asset allocation and fund fees to optimize your investment returns. It’s one of the best free investing tools as most platforms are paid-only these days.

Further, at the heart of Empower, is its Wealth Management service when you invest $100,000 or more. It provides a customized, human-assisted managed portfolio for a single, all-inclusive annual advisory fee. You also get access to a dedicated investment advisor.

Here's our full Empower review for more information.

Go to Empower

What Is a Stock Tracker?

A stock tracker is a software application that enables you to monitor your investments in real time. It’s different from the simple lists of stocks your broker displays as you can likely customize information, such as:

• Real-time alerts
• Investment performance
• Historical data
• Fundamental and technical indicators
• Stock charts
• Analyst ratings
• Research reports
• Portfolio analyzers
• Model portfolios

Some stock trading apps offer their own online stock trackers. And while these can be effective, they’re not necessarily in-depth tools as the platform primarily focuses on helping you buy stock shares instead of researching potential investments and current holdings. 

What Makes a Good Stock Tracker?

Comparing stock trackers with the following criteria can help you pick the best service:

• Research capabilities: This is the ultimate measure of a good stock tracker. Look at the number of stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and mutual funds the tracker can cover. Further, it should offer brokerage account integration to accurately track your current holdings. 
• Investment horizon: Most stock trackers cater towards long-term investors and focus on fundamental indicators as a result. Short-term traders should consider stock charting apps instead as they likely offer more technical indicators.
• Availability: Is the tracker available for desktop, mobile apps, or both? Even though the majority of your investing activity may take place on your desktop, you may also want the ability to access the stock tracker on your mobile app when you’re not at your desk. Further, some trackers make mobile-friendly platforms exclusive to paid subscribers.
• Reputation. There are millions of active investors just like you. They represent a serious source of objective opinions about any stock tracker. If a tracker gets high marks from its users, there’s a better chance you’ll be satisfied with the product.
• Price. Many stock trackers have free versions and premium plans costing hundreds of dollars. A free version may work well if your portfolio is relatively small, holds few stocks, or if you’re not an active trader. But, paying for a premium tracker could be one of your best investments. 
• Usability: Ideally, a stock tracker should offer you a free trial period so that you can test the product. Use this time to decide which features you need to choose the appropriate membership plan.
• Your personal needs and preferences. The best stock tracker is whichever is the best stock tracker for you. It doesn’t matter what an online reviewer decides. You’ll need to choose based on your investment style, needs, and preferences.

How Can I Track My Stocks for Free?

Free portfolio management software offers more insights and user-friendly tracking tools than your current investing app. In particular, a stock tracker is useful when you invest through multiple brokerages.

Premium portfolio trackers, such as Seeking Alpha, Stock Rover, and Ziggma, offer free versions to keep tabs on performance, receive basic stock ratings and insights, and review your portfolio allocation. 

Each free platform has different features and layout options. So, you may try several to see which one has the best functionality and tools for your investments and personal preferences. 

Summary

If you manage your own portfolio, you almost certainly need a good stock tracker to become a better investor. You can also research stocks and funds more efficiently along with monitoring all your investments in one place. There are plenty of free and paid options available matching your investing needs. 

The post 6 Best Stock Trackers for 2024 appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

GoHenry offers family-friendly debit cards for kids and teens that can help them learn how to manage their money and also participate in a digital economy that’s going cashless.

Your child can quickly receive funds, make payments, get a customized card, and earn bonus cash by completing in-app Money Missions. As a parent, you can schedule allowance payments and also monitor your child’s accounts.

This GoHenry Card review takes a closer look at how your child can use this card to learn how to manage money and pay the bills.

At a Glance

• Parent controlled debit card for kids
• $5 per child or $10 for up to four kids
• Parent can set chores and allowances

Who Should Use GoHenry

GoHenry is good for families with teens and tweens who need a debit card. GoHenry allows parents to pay allowance and set up and pay for chores. Parents can also restrict spending by amount and retailer. Relatives can also contribute to the child’s account as well.

The child can set savings goals, transfer money between GoHenry accounts, and complete exercises that teach money management skills.

GoHenry Alternatives

Price	$5.99 to $14.98 for up to five kids	$5.99 per family	$4 per month for up to five kids
Automatic allowance and chores	Yes	Yes	Yes
Investing	Yes	No	Yes
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What is GoHenry?

GoHenry dates back to 2012 and was invented by parents looking for an efficient way to pay their allowance and help their children pay for online purchases.

Today, this platform has over 2 million members. It offers customized debit cards to children, giving them many banking features and a few extra perks that can make managing money easier. 

Parents can quickly transfer funds, set up recurring allowances, and assign and pay for chores. You can also set spending controls, receive notifications, and set savings goals.

Who Can Join?

GoHenry is currently open to residents of the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. The service is also available in the United Kingdom.

A parent will need to open an account and enroll their children. You must be the legal guardian of the child you wish to register. 

This service can be an excellent solution for your family members that are 6-18 years old that don’t have access to a checking account yet but need a way to perform these tasks:

• Enroll in direct deposit
• Make debit card purchases
• Split purchases
• Receive financial gifts from parents and relatives

Once a child turns 17 years and 11 months, their debit card will expire at its expiration date. So, your child must upgrade to a traditional account when they turn 18 and become a legal adult. Here’s our list of the best teen checking accounts.

Learn more about GoHenry

How Much Does GoHenry Cost?

After the 30-day free trial, GoHenry costs $5 per child. The family plan for up to four kids is $10 per month.

There are several other incidental fees you may encounter:

• ATM withdrawals: $1.50
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%
• Customized card designs: $5 per card 
• Standard card designs: $0

GoHenry Account Limits

You may encounter transaction limits for spending and receiving money, as follows:

• Maximum balance for parent and child accounts: $6,000
• Maximum number of loads per day: 3 (up to $500 per day for parent accounts)
• Number of purchases per day: 10 (up to $2,500 in spend per day)
• ATM withdrawals: Up to $120 per day (up to 3 daily withdrawals)

How GoHenry Works

You will download the GoHenry mobile app to your Android or iOS devices to use the platform features. While parents and children use the same app, each party has a different dashboard. 

Here is a closer look at how parents and children can use GoHenry.

For Parents

Parents will set up accounts for their children between the ages of 6 and 18. For enhanced ease of use, a second parent can be added. 

Here is a step-by-step list to joining GoHenry:

1. Open an account: You can open an account online or through the mobile app. Your first 30 days are free, and then you pay $5 per child per month (or $10 per month for the family plan).
2. Link a bank account or card: Next, you can link an external bank account or debit card to fund your parent account. GoHenry also uses this account to pay your monthly service fee if your parent account has insufficient funds. There are no transfer fees when this service needs cash from your linked account.
3. Fund your child accounts: After funding your parent account, you can send cash to your child accounts. You can also schedule recurring transfers to help this tool run automatically.
4. Use the child debit card: Your child will receive their debit card several days after their account opening. As they use their card, you can monitor their spending activity, adjust the parental controls, and use other planning tools to help them succeed financially. 

Parental Controls

As your child makes purchases, you can receive real-time spending alerts and set additional parental controls to ensure they don’t get into trouble.

Here are some of the ways parents can monitor their child’s account:

• Receive real-time spending alerts
• How the card can be used (i.e., local stores, online, ATM)
• Weekly, daily, and single-purchase spending limits
• ATM transaction limits
• Freeze or unlock debit card on-demand

You can adjust these rules for each child. So, you may give an older teen that drives or works part-time more liberty than their younger sibling.

In addition to these controls, GoHenry automatically blocks debit card purchases at stores with an “Over 18” merchant code. For example, this card won’t work at liquor stores and tobacco shops. 

Also, teens cannot get cashback from store cashiers or bank tellers. Instead, they must go to an ATM to make a cash withdrawal (assuming you enable ATM access).

For Teens and Kids

Your child receives a Mastercard debit card for online and in-person purchases up to the account balance. In addition, there are no overdraft fees, as transactions won’t process if there are insufficient funds. 

Kids can manage their accounts and complete tasks with the GoHenry mobile app.

Money can be received from parents, relatives, friends, and employers. The account balance has FDIC insurance through Community Federal Savings Bank.  

The app also allows children to earn money by taking short money lessons (parent-paid). 

There are some budgeting tools to save money for specific goals – the service mainly helps teens receive and spend money to learn basic financial literacy.

Learn more about GoHenry

Best GoHenry Card Features

These are some of the best reasons to consider using GoHenry. 

Money Missions 

Children can complete in-app Money Missions by watching short videos and answering quizzes about different financial topics. As a reward, they can earn bonus cash in addition to experience points and badges.

The lessons cover topics such as:

• Earning money from jobs
• How taxes work
• Saving money
• Spending wisely
• Avoiding money scams
• Budgeting
• Borrowing money
• Investing

These lessons help teach basic financial literacy concepts, and the cash rewards can incentivize your child to take them.

Allowances

You can schedule weekly or monthly allowance payments within the app. This frequency can help your child plan a weekly budget and prepare them for receiving a regular paycheck. 

Schedule Chores

Parents can assign chores in the app. You may also enable payments for each completed task if you don’t want to rely on the automated allowance tool to give your child money solely.

Customized Debit Cards

Over 45 different card designs are available that allow your child to personalize their card. 

Several of these designs cost $5, but the classic designs are free and stylish.

In addition to the numerous card designs, the card can work online or in person at most stores. Parents can use spending controls to prohibit its use for specific transactions like ATM withdrawals or in-store purchases.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

These cards won’t incur a foreign transaction fee if you travel outside the United States. In comparison, this fee can be as high as 3% with other services. 

Split Purchases

Teens can split debit card purchases by sending money to others or requesting funds through the app. 

Savings Goals

Parents or children can create savings goals to plan for upcoming expenses. Unfortunately, this platform lacks in-depth budgeting tools that adults may need to pay the bills, but this feature helps you create a basic savings plan.

Unfortunately, your savings won’t earn interest, but you can avoid accidentally spending this cash on something else.

✨ Related: Best Budgeting Apps for Grads

Direct Deposit

Teens with part-time jobs can receive direct deposits to their accounts and quickly access their cash. 

The app sends a push notification to the child and parent when the deposit clears. Once your employer initiates the payment, this usually takes two days, but deposits larger than $500 can take longer as the GoHenry security team must review the transaction.

One potential frustration is that the mobile app doesn’t support mobile check deposits. If a child receives a paper check, parents must first deposit it into their checking account and schedule a transfer.

Gifts from Relatives and Friends

Friends and relatives who don’t have a GoHenry account can easily send money directly to a child for their birthday, Christmas, or another reason.

The platform uses Giftlinks for free money deposits from non-members using their bank account or debit card.

Retrieve PIN Numbers

The app lets parents retrieve a debit card PIN if their child forgets it. This feature removes the stress of contacting GoHenry to reset the number. 

FDIC Insurance and Fraud Protection

Your account has up to $250,000 in FDIC insurance benefits. However, the maximum account balance is only $6,000, so you might transfer your excess balance to a high-yield savings account.

Your debit card also has $0 liability protection for fraudulent transactions. Merchants may also use “Chip and Pin” practices to prevent debit card theft. 

Refer Friends

If you refer a friend to join GoHenry, you and them can each get a $30 bonus.

Learn more about GoHenry

Is GoHenry Worth It?

GoHenry is an excellent option for teens, as they can easily access their cash for in-store or online purchases. Earning bonus cash by taking financial literacy lessons is also unique.

Parents must decide if the teen banking benefits and parental controls are worth the monthly fee, though being able to customize spending controls and instantly transfer funds to children is helpful.

Instead, you may consider a teen checking account if you don’t need the hands-on budgeting tools or want to avoid monthly service fees.

GoHenry Alternatives

While GoHenry is one of the best apps for teen debit cards, other platforms offer their own unique features. Let’s take a closer look at a few GoHenry alternatives.

Greenlight

Greenlight has three different monthly plans ranging from $5.99 to $14.98, with the option of up to five debit cards for that flat rate.

Depending on which plan you choose, your child may also get these benefits:

• Earn up to 5% on savings
• Earn up to 1% cash back on purchases
• Open an investing account
• Cell phone protection
• Identity theft protection

Your child can also take financial literacy lessons, complete chores, and receive an allowance.

This platform offers many of the same banking features as GoHenry. However, you may prefer this service if you want your child to start investing in the same platform.

Read our Greenlight review to learn more.

Go to Greenlight

FamZoo

FamZoo can be the better option if you want in-depth budget and debit card tools. 

You can set automated allowances, set chores, and even track family loans. Teens can also set up direct deposit.

The chores feature is quite in-depth. It allows you to set recurring chores, “first-dibs” chores, and charge a penalty if a chore is not completed. It even allows the child to put a chore for review so you can check it before you issue payment.

The monthly fee is a flat $5.99 per family, with no limit on the number of kids you can have on the plan. The price reduces to as low as $2.50 if you prepay for 24 months upfront ($59.99 upfront).

Read our FamZoo review to find out more.

Go to FamZoo

BusyKid

BusyKid allows parents to set up chores and pay for them right in the app. You can also set up recurring allowances. Each child gets a debit card with full parent controls and notifications. There are also investing features that let your child get a feel for stock investing.

It costs $4 per month (billed annually) for up to five debit cards.

Go to BusyKid

FAQs

GoHenry vs. Greenlight: Which is Better?

Both apps have many of the same features like allowance payments, savings goals, and parental controls. Still, there are several differences between the amenities and pricing. 

GoHenry can be slightly cheaper with a smaller family as you pay $5 per child or $10 for a family with up to four kids. They can earn bonus cash by completing financial literacy lessons and accessing debit card banking features.

Greenlight provides up to five debit cards with a flat monthly fee between $5 and $10. In addition to the debit card, you can open an investing account and earn cash back on debit card purchases.

Learn more about GoHenry

GoHenry Review: Final Thoughts

GoHenry provides a sound debit card for teens and kids with a reasonable monthly fee. Parents can quickly transfer funds to their children with a platform like GoHenry, which includes basic budgeting and financial literacy tools that a custodial bank account may not provide.

However, other platforms can be better if you need in-depth spending plans, debit card rewards, or the benefit of a flat monthly fee if you require cards for several children.

The post GoHenry Review: A Feature-Rich Kids Debit Card for Smaller Families appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Founded in 1979, Fisher Investments is a well-known investment advisory firm. However, many investors are unaware of its services and whether its money managers can improve their portfolio performance.

Good wealth managers can provide the hands-on support that high-net-worth households need to manage their investments properly. They can also help investors who want personalized investment strategies.

In this Fisher Investments Review, I’ll cover everything from services and fees to account minimums and wealth management options.

At a glance

• Fee-only financial advisors
• Must have at least $500,000 in investable assets
• Customized investment plans

Who Should Use Fisher Investments

Fisher Investments is good for those who have at least $500,000 in assets to invest and want to hire a financial advisor to manage those assets on their behalf. Fisher charges a percentage of assets under management as its fee. The financial advisors do not earn commissions.

Fisher Investment Alternatives

Robo advisor	No	Yes	Yes
Fees	0.89%	0.40%	0.25%
Minimum investment	$100,000	$0	$500
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What Is Fisher Investments?

Fisher Investments is an independent, fee-only registered investment advisory firm offering virtual and in-person private wealth and business 401(k) services.

Ken Fisher founded the company in 1979. Its headquarters were originally in Camas, WA, but they moved to Plano, TX, in the summer of 2023.

Fisher Investments has regional offices and investment representatives in several states across the U.S. and several international offices around the world. It has more than 135,000 clients and $276 billion in assets under management (AUM).

Approximately $38 billion of the $276 billion under management comes from institutional investors and U.S. small—to mid-sized businesses. The remaining client base consists of individual investors.

The minimum investment threshold for most portfolios is $500,000, making Fisher’s service best-suited for high-net-worth investors. You don’t need to be an accredited investor to join.

About Ken Fisher

Ken Fisher is the founder of Fisher Investments and is currently its Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer. He comes from a family of investment professionals. Before starting Fisher Investments, Ken was well-known for helping pioneer the Price-to-Sales ratio, one of today’s widely used investment metrics.

Fisher also wrote one of Forbes Magazine’s longest-running columns, “Portfolio Strategy,” which ran monthly for 37.5 years through December 2016. He continues to make recurring national media appearances and write monthly investing columns.

Investment Philosophy

Unlike most wealth management services, which take a passive investing approach with index funds, Fisher Investments practices active management and aims to outperform the market.

Most investment strategies are measured against the MSCI World Index, which tracks the performance of stocks in 23 developed international markets.

According to Fisher, the company’s philosophy is based on a “set of financial principles that guide all of our investment decisions, rooted in our belief in capitalism and the power of free markets.”

Fiduciary advisors help build tailored portfolios, looking for domestic and global opportunities that fit clients’ goals and beliefs. Your portfolio may hold equities, bonds, ETFs, cash, and other securities that can produce long-term wealth.

Learn More About Fisher Investments

Historical Performance

Fisher Investments doesn’t publicly disclose its average portfolio performance, but you can speak with a regional representative to inquire about a specific strategy.

The firm is transparent and states that its money managers don’t always get it right. Investment performance is calculated using the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®), the industry standard for measuring investment managers’ performance.

Fisher Investments Fees and Minimums

You must invest at least $500,000 to open a Private Client Group account. The annual management fee is reportedly between 1% and 1.5%, although individuals must schedule an appointment to review the fee structure.

However, Fisher Investments states, “We bill only on assets under management – we do not sell products or earn commissions on trades.”

Like most wealth management services, it has a tiered fee structure with smaller percentages for higher balance tiers.

Reports indicate that with account balances of $500,000 or less, pay a 1.5% fee. A multi-million-dollar portfolio is necessary to qualify for the 1% advisory fee. This fee structure is competitive with hiring a financial advisor but is more expensive than hybrid and robo-advisor platforms.

Fisher Investments Services

Fisher Investments is a discretionary money manager. That means that when you sign up, you give your portfolio manager the authority to make buy and sell decisions on your investments.

Of course, Fisher bases these decisions on your overall investment objectives, which take into account your risk tolerance, time horizon, financial goals, etc. They meet with their clients regularly to revisit their objectives and make changes if necessary.

Portfolio Management

A fee-only advisor will help oversee your investment portfolio and personalize it to satisfy these factors:

• Personal goals 
• Risk tolerance
• Time horizon
• Cash flow needs
• Capital gains tax optimization

Your investment counselor will also consider your outside income and assets to build a diversified portfolio and help you track each investment.

You can have discussions during the planning and implementation process. Your advisor and the investment team will strategically place trades. While you are assigned a primary counselor, a team of professionals will service and manage your portfolio.

Your investment options include the following:

• Equity accounts: Stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds
• Fixed income accounts: Bonds and income-producing assets
• Blended accounts: A combination of equities and fixed-income investments

Fisher supports both taxable brokerage and tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Your personalized investment plan will implement tax-optimization strategies to optimize your investment potential while minimizing the tax penalty.

As Fisher Investments doesn’t partner with a particular fund provider and adheres to the fiduciary rule, you won’t be steered towards a specific fund company.

Some of the allocations Fisher may incorporate include:

• Global
• Global excluding the United States
• United States strategies
• Emerging markets
• Long/Short equities
• Qualitative

Fisher Investments employs an in-house research team to provide top-down research into the various sectors. Your advisor will use these findings to help make informed, curated recommendations.

Financial Planning

Wealth management goes beyond picking the best investments for your short-term and long-term goals.

You can receive help with the following tasks:

• Budgeting
• Making an emergency fund
• Forming retirement goals
• Retirement expense withdrawal plan
• Estate planning (including donor-advised funds) 

Working on these goals with your investment manager will help them analyze your financial picture. You’ll benefit from a reduced probability of outliving your wealth and a more precise personalized investment plan.

Learn More About Fisher Investments

Quarterly Portfolio Reviews

All members receive quarterly reviews from the Fisher Investments Investment Policy Committee. This report discusses the recent market performance, global investment conditions, and future market outlook.

The committee records a Capital Markets Update video twice a year that dives into more detail about how portfolio decision-makers currently interpret market conditions to adjust their investment philosophy.

Additionally, Founder Ken Fisher provides regular insights by column or video in addition to these quarterly reports.

Client Programs

One advantage of investing with Fisher is that you get access to interactive programs in 60 cities. With other services, you may have an annual portfolio review but rarely speak with your financial advisor during the rest of the year.

Some of Fisher’s resources include:

• Informal gatherings with other clients (no Fisher Investments staff are present)
• Investment roundtables
• Market forecast seminars
• Web-based seminars for asking questions to the Investment Policy Committee

There are no additional fees for these events.

Annuity Review

Fisher Investments doesn’t sell annuities but provides a complimentary consultation for clients who already have one. To gather information, an initial conference call will involve you, Fisher Investments, and the annuity plan insurance company.

After this initial discussion, your investment advisor will decide how Fisher Investments can potentially produce similar or better results. There is no obligation to convert your annuity if you believe it’s in your best interest to keep it.

Alternatives to Fisher Investments

Choosing a discretionary management firm to oversee a six or 7-figure investment portfolio is a big decision. Before you sign up with Fisher Investments, consider the following platforms. None of these alternatives do exactly what Fisher does, as most online platforms encourage a more passive investing approach.

Empower

The Empower Personal Dashboard (previously Personal Capital) provides managed portfolios and access to a financial advisory team with as little as $100,000 in investable assets.

Empower also offers several free financial planning tools for all members, even if you don’t meet the $100,000 minimum or choose to manage your portfolio. Some tools include a net worth tracker, investment fee and asset allocation analyzer, retirement planner, and a basic budget.

An Empower Personal Cash account also earns a competitive interest rate and offers up to $2 million in FDIC insurance. This cash management account offers unlimited withdrawals, which you can use to pay bills.

Read our Empower Investment review for more information.

Go to Empower

Betterment

Betterment provides managed accounts with no minimum balance requirements. The robo-advisor invests in traditional stock and bond index ETFs for a fee of 0.25% annually. You can also pursue customized strategies such as socially responsible funds, crypto, and target income. Tax-loss harvesting is free with all plans.

If you qualify for the Premium plan, you can get on-demand financial advisor access with a minimum $100,000 account balance. It won’t be at the same level as Fisher Investments offers, but the annual fee is only 0.40% for all balance tiers.

Basic users also have access to several online retirement planning tools and financial calculators, which can effectively replace hiring an advisor.

The platform also offers a free checking account and high-yield cash management accounts that make it easier to avoid banking fees while enjoying many banking benefits.

Learn more in our Betterment review.

Go to Betterment

Wealthfront

Wealthfront is a robo-advisor offering managed portfolios and automated financial planning tools. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer access to a human advisor, which is a dealbreaker for some.

The minimum initial investment is $500; advanced portfolio options unlock with a higher balance. Two options include U.S. Direct Indexing ($100,000 minimum) and Smart Beta ($500,000 minimum). A 0.25% fee applies to all stock investing plans.

In addition to the low-cost investment options, the automated financial planning tools can help you develop a plan to save for pivotal life events, including college, retirement, and buying a home. You can try them first to decide if they provide the financial advice you seek.

The online brokerage offers banking products, too. One feature is the Wealthfront Cash Account, which has a competitive interest rate, unlimited transfers, no monthly fees, and up to $3 million in FDIC insurance (through partner banks).

A portfolio line of credit is also available when your assets can be more productive in other investment vehicles for a limited time.

Read our Wealthfront review for all the details.

Go to Wealthfront

Who is Fisher Investments Best Suited For?

Fisher Investments is suitable for wealthy individuals who want access to financial planning services and a fully managed investment portfolio. Professional management becomes more valuable when you have a substantial portfolio, and the fees can be worthwhile.

Individuals should consider services like what Fisher offers when they no longer want to manage their portfolios. The ideal investor will prefer an active investing style that looks for more opportunities to build wealth but must be comfortable with an adaptive portfolio that’s more likely to exit positions and rebalance as market conditions change.

Who Should Avoid Fisher Investments?

This service isn’t for new investors and investors who wish to manage their portfolios for a lower cost. You will pay fewer fees with a passive investment approach of buying and holding low-cost ETFs or index funds.

The $500,000 minimum will filter out small investors, and several robo-advisors offer basic portfolio management and financial planner access at a lower price.

Learn More About Fisher Investments

The Bottom Line on Fisher Investments

Fisher Investments is a good fit for high-net-worth investors who don’t need to be involved in the day-to-day decision-making and are willing to pay a slightly higher fee for professional advice and hands-on portfolio management.

The most significant hurdle is meeting the $500,000 investment minimum, and you must also be comfortable with an asset management fee as high as 1.5%. If you don’t meet the minimums or the fees are too high, robo-advisor platforms like the ones mentioned above may be a good compromise.

The post Fisher Investments Review: Hands-On Portfolio Management appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Kikoff is a credit-building service that offers a revolving credit account and a secured credit card to help you boost your credit score. It also now offers rent reporting as an additional way to build credit. Monthly payments, as low as $5, are reported to all three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. No credit check is required and you can open an account online in minutes.

At a Glance

• Open an account within minutes
• No credit check is required
• Low $5 monthly payments
• Reports to all three bureaus
• Secured credit card makes it easy to access cash

Visit Kikoff

Who Should Use Kikoff?

Kikoff is designed for those looking for an affordable way to boost their credit scores but cannot qualify for a traditional loan or credit card. According to Kikoff, “On average, customers with credit scores under 600 increase their credit scores by 58 points[1], with consistent on-time payments during the account lifetime.”

Kikoff Alternatives

Pricing	Varies: APRs range from 15.51% to 15.92%	Free	$20 – $25/month
Builds Savings	Yes	Yes (Chime Savings Account)	No
Reports to Credit Bureaus	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More

What Is Kikoff?

Kikoff is a fintech credit-building service launched in 2019. It offers a low-cost way to boost your credit score and is available via desktop and mobile devices (Android and iOS). The platform is available in all 50 states and you must be at least 18 to join.

The credit-building platform has two main components. A revolving credit account and a secured credit card. The former collects monthly payments as small as $5 and reports the on-time payment to all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. 

Each payment can strengthen these credit score factors:

• Payment history (35% of your credit score)
• Credit utilization (30%)
• Account age (15%)
• Credit mix (10%)

You’ll want to consider Kikoff if you’re looking to build credit without a credit card.

How Much Does Kikoff Cost?

Payments on the Kikoff credit account are $5 per month. Unlike some credit-building programs, you won’t pay the following fees:

• Interest charges
• Late fees
• Administrative fees
• Hidden fees
• Early repayment fees

However, missing a payment can hurt your credit score despite the lack of fees. It’s free to join, and there are no financial commitments until you review the credit agreement and repayment schedule.

Visit Kikoff

How Kikoff Works

Kikoff has three main components: a Credit Account, Secured Credit Card, and Rent Reporting. Here’s a closer look at each:

Credit Account

The first step to building credit with Kikoff is opening a revolving credit line with a $750 spending limit.

It’s similar to a credit card, with a preset spending limit and minimum monthly payment. However, you can only use this credit to purchase an annual membership or buy ebooks in the Kikoff store. At a minimum, you must choose the Kikoff Credit Service ($5 monthly payments) to be an active member.

The app recommends keeping your credit utilization ratio below 10% of your limit to see the most upside. For this reason, you’ll want to stagger your ebook purchases. Your payments report to the TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian credit bureaus.

Secured Credit Card

Kikoff offers a secured Mastercard that works more like a checking account/debit card combo. You can only spend the amount you deposit into the account. Because you’re spending your own money, you don’t have to worry about due dates or going over the limit. A minimum of $50 deposit is required.

The money you deposit is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through Kikoff’s relationship with Coastal Community Bank. Payments are reported to all three credit bureaus, and you can access your cash fee-free at 55,000 Allpoint ATMs.

Rent Reporting

Kikoff will report future rent payments to the Equifax credit bureau for no additional cost. The company plans to add the other two credit bureaus in the future. Kikoff doesn’t collect your rent for you. Instead, you’ll need to link the bank account you use to pay your rent, provide Kikoff with your landlord and lease information, and authorize Kikoff to report your on-time payments.

For a one-time fee of $50, Kikoff will also report your past rental payments.

Can Kikoff Build Credit?

Kikoff can increase your credit score with on-time payments. It’s possible to start seeing an increase after the first month, but it can take several months to reap the full benefits as your account age increases.

Customers with no credit or a low score can see the most improvement. Some testimonials report seeing an increase between 20 and 100 points within a few months. Of course, results vary by person, and you must practice other good practices to see a higher score increase. 

If you’re unsure where to find your credit score, here are 13 ways to check it for free.

Unfortunately, the standard Kikoff Credit Account only reports to the Equifax and Experian credit bureaus. Neither will it improve your business credit score.

Visit Kikoff

Kikoff vs. Alternatives

These credit-building services can also be worth using to strengthen your credit history. 

Self

A Self Credit Builder Account lets you contribute between $25 and $150 per month for up to 24 months into a credit-building account. Your payments report to all three bureaus, and you receive your payment amount back (minus administrative fees) at the end of the loan.

After opening a credit builder loan, you may also open a Self Visa secured credit card. This additional account can build credit and doesn’t incur additional fees. 

Learn more in our Self Credit Builder review.

Visit Self

Chime

Chime can be an all-in-one banking and credit solution. You are eligible for a fee-free Credit Builder secured Visa credit card when opening a free checking account. Your spending limit is the same as your refundable security deposit, and your monthly payments report to all three bureaus.

In addition, this service offers high-yield savings accounts without fees or minimum balance requirements. Other banking perks include online bill pay, surcharge-free ATMs, and overdraft protection of up to $200.

Learn more in our Chime Bank review.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Please see back of your Card for its issuing bank.

Visit Chime

Extra Card

The Extra Card is a rewards debit card connecting to your checking account to pay for purchases. While Extra functions like a debit card with daily balance payments, your payment history reports to the three credit bureaus. Your purchases can earn 1% back, and pricing ranges from $20 to $25 monthly.

Learn more in our Extra Debit Card review.  

Visit Extra

FAQs

Visit Kikoff

Summary

Overall, Kikoff is an easy and cheap way to build credit or repair a damaged score. We like that they now report to all three credit bureaus, and rental payment reporting is a welcome addition. Just remember that credit-building platforms like Kikoff aren’t the be-all and end-all. You’ll eventually need to incorporate other credit products to build an excellent credit score.

The post Kikoff Review: Build Your Credit with $750 appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Are you looking for a financial app that can track your banking accounts, help you budget, and suggest ways to improve your finances?

Monarch Money is a popular budgeting app that allows you to see all your financial accounts in one place. For example, the app syncs to most bank accounts, lets you create unlimited budgets, and tracks your investments and net worth.

This Monarch Money review covers the various financial tools available to you.

For a limited time, Monarch is offering 30% off your first year with the coupon code WELCOME. This code is valid starting September 21st, 2024.

At a Glance

• Set up a customized budget
• Automatically identifies recurring expenses
• Add unlimited contributors to the budget
• Track your net worth and investments

Who Should Use Monarch Money?

Monarch is great for tracking all of one’s financial accounts in one place. You can see your budget and everyday spending alongside your net worth. You can create customized reports and try out different scenarios to see how they play out long term.

You can also add unlimited contributors to your budget, which is perfect for couples or those working with a financial coach or advisor.

Alternatives to Monarch Money

Pricing	$9.08 per month or $109 per year	Free	$10 per month or $100 per year
Best feature	Budgeting	Net worth tracking	Budgeting
Investment tracking	No	Yes	No
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What Is Monarch Money?

Monarch Money is a budgeting app and net worth tracker. It is free for seven days, and then it is $99 per year.

Some of the intriguing features include:

• A monthly budget
• Savings goals
• Net worth tracking
• Subscription management
• Calendar view of upcoming bills

Individuals and couples can budget together. You can also add a financial advisor as a collaborator to provide additional insights.

Learn more about Monarch

How Monarch Money Works

You can access Monarch Money by a mobile app (Android or iOS) and the online website.

Upon joining, the service will sync with your bank and investment accounts (over 11,200 available institutions). The free version allows you to connect up to two bank accounts, and investment tracking is only for paid subscribers.

Once your accounts are connected, the app walks you through its various functions, like budgeting and goal setting. Monarch will pull transactions from your linked accounts, and you can assign a specific income or expense category to make an accurate budget.

As the months roll on, you can log contributions for savings goals and act on the advice for other financial topics like retirement planning and getting necessary insurance. 

Monarch Money Features

Monarch Money is packed with tools to help you track your spending and plan for future goals. Let’s take a closer look at some of its best features:

Budget

Of course, a budgeting tool will have a budget, but it’s a good place to start, nonetheless. The monthly spending plan lets you forecast upcoming monthly expenses by category. Taking it further, you can quickly compare your actual budget figures to your planned expenses. You can adjust your planned category spending for each month to account for one-off events like a vacation or an expensive car repair.

The various budget categories are expansive and cover the most common household expenses, business income, taxes, health and wellness, and more. You can also customize the categories for income and expenses to get a more realistic household budget.

Monarch Money automatically categorizes your transactions, but you must adjust several category assignments. You will probably need to modify the monthly budget’s planned and actual spending amounts – the same goes for most budget software.

Customizable budget categories are just a start. Some of the other nifty features include:

• Rollover budgets: Roll your monthly savings into next month’s budget. This capability makes tracking your disposable income for life’s variable expenses easier. 
• Track your progress: You can always see exactly how you are doing throughout the month. This helps you stay on budget and makes it easier to meet your goals. You can also pull a monthly progress report.
• Test scenarios: You can plug in different scenarios and see how they impact your long-term finances.
• Retirement planning: You can see how your spending impacts your retirement plans.

Learn more about Monarch

Financial Goals

Instead of creating savings goals in your savings account, you can build them within this platform to see your entire financial picture in one place.

This feature is similar to other financial platforms. You assign a savings goal and deadline. Then, as you set aside new funds for the purpose, you can update your progress, which is displayed with an interactive graph.

Investment Tracking

You can sync unlimited investment accounts to track the performance of individual stocks and funds and even crypto. You can view your allocations and see the historical performance of your investments.

You can also see how your performance stacks up against benchmarks, such as the S&P 500 and VTI.

Recurring Expense Tracker

We all have recurring expenses, and Monarch will automatically detect them and put them into a calendar view. You can also manually add recurring expenses if needed. This can be so helpful if you plan your budget based on when you get paid. You’ll also get a reminder notification three days before the bill is due.

Net Worth Tracker

The platform can track your cash and investment balances to calculate your liquid net worth. You can also estimate your home value through Zillow. If you have accounts that won’t sync, you can add them manually.

While this tool is helpful, it doesn’t track every net worth metric. Other services specializing in tracking net worth can be better if this task is more important than budgeting.

Joint Finances

You can add unlimited collaborators, including your spouse, financial advisor, adult children, etc. This hands-on access is available to free and paid members.

Being able to have multiple collaborators can make it easier to build a household budget. If you’re seeking professional financial advice, your advisor can get their own Monarch login, and Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), to (securely) help you make a long-term plan. Other budgeting apps may charge extra for multiple users, but that’s not the case with Monarch Money.

Customized Charts

You can create custom reports to see your spending patterns in the way that works best for you. You can see things like top merchants, your savings rate, spending over a set date, spending by tags, and more.

You can export the images or download the data into a spreadsheet.

Alternatives to Monarch Money

There’s a lot of competition in the budgeting app space, and Monarch Money has several competitors – names like Mint and YNAB. Here are some free and paid Monarch Money alternatives for you to consider, if none of these are good fit check out list of the best budgeting apps for couples.

YNAB

Consider YNAB (You Need a Budget) if you’re serious about budgeting. This app syncs with multiple devices, including computers, phones, and wearables. 

This program practices zero-based budgeting to assign a purpose to every dollar you earn. The ultimate goal is to pay this month’s bills with last month’s income instead of living paycheck to paycheck.

After a 34-day free trial, you pay $14.99 per month or $109 annually with a one-time payment.

While YNAB costs more than Monarch Money, it has more in-depth budgeting features. In addition, it can be compatible with more devices, making budgeting easier. Learn more in our full YNAB review.

Go to YNAB

Empower (formerly Personal Capital)

Empower is better if you mostly want to track your net worth and investment performance. It’s also free to use. The service also has a basic budgeting tool which can be helpful if you have a firm grasp on living within your means and are ready to increase your disposable income to save for long-term goals.

Read our full Empower review to discover all of the financial tools.

Go to Empower

Lunch Money

Lunch Money is a budgeting app that, as expected, allows you to set spending categories. It then imports your transactions and categorizes them into your spending categories. It also automatically identifies your recurring expenses and allows for unlimited collaborators. It will track your net worth, but you can’t track your investments.

It costs $10 per month or $100 annually.

Learn more at our full Lunch Money Review.

Go to Lunch Money

Money Monarch FAQs

Monarch Money Review: Final Thoughts

In the world of budgeting apps, Monarch Money is a solid choice. In my opinion, the cost is worth it since it gives you a lot of control over your finances and will likely be a net positive your financial situation.

It also allows you to track your investments and sync unlimited accounts. However, Personal Capital is an excellent alternative for this if you don’t need in-depth budgeting tools.

Learn more about Monarch

For a limited time, Monarch is offering 30% off your first year with the coupon code WELCOME. This code is valid starting September 21st, 2024.

The post Monarch Money Review: Create a Plan for Your Money appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

StellarFi is a credit builder platform that doesn’t require you to borrow money, pay interest, or make any security deposits. Instead, it converts your regular monthly bills into a powerful credit-building tool.

But how does it compare to the many credit-building products available on the market, and does it really work?

Give us a few minutes and we’ll explain how the platform works, how much it costs, and how it can help you build credit.

At a Glance

• Use StellarFi to pay your bills and then immediately pay StellarFi back
• Reports to Equifax and Experian
• Plans start at $4.99 per month

Who Should Use StellarFi?

StellarFi is good for people who want to rebuild their credit and have monthly bills they already pay via their checking account. Plans start at just $4.99 per month for up to $500 in bills per month. The next level plan is $9.99 per month and works for bills up to $25,000 per month, which should cover most people.

StellarFi Alternatives

Pricing	$5 per month	Charges interest	Charges interest
Build credit with current bills	No	No	No
Builds savings	No	Yes	Yes
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

What Is StellarFi?

StellarFi is a credit-building service that opened to the public in July 2022. According to the financial technology (fintech) platform, over 130 million Americans don’t have access to a homeownership path or a financial safety net to afford emergencies.

One of the key selling points is that it allows you to build credit without a credit card by reporting your monthly payments to two of the major credit bureaus (Equifax and Experian). Furthermore, you won’t undergo a hard credit check which has a slight impact on your credit. 

Also, it’s structured as a Public Benefit Corporation, which is a specific corporate structure in which they affirm to “generate social and public good.” Its mandate is to generate good rather than maximize shareholder profits (or other similar motives).

How StellarFi Works

Getting started is easy. You simply connect your monthly bills to a StellarFi Bill Pay Card, which acts like a line of credit. This credit line pays your bills and immediately draws the funds from a linked bank account, so you never carry a balance or pay credit card interest. 

StellarFi has been adding additional perks as its customer base expands. This includes bill payment rewards and other perks on its upper-tier plans.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can bolster your credit score.

Free Credit Report

You can check your credit score for free after creating your StellarFi profile (there is no impact on your credit.) This provides a baseline from which to track your progress with each bill payment. 

Your StellarFi credit score is a Vantage 3.0 scoring model from the three bureaus. Most credit score apps only monitor one or two scores.

One minor frustration is that you see a Vantage 3.0 credit score instead of a FICO Score, which is the most common credit score. The FICO Score is the one the lenders use when they perform a credit check. So, the VantageScore isn’t as precise, but you have a firm idea of your current credit score range. 

Add and Pay Bills

After completing the initial account setup, you can link your recurring monthly bills, such as your cable TV, internet, or phone bill. You receive a virtual StellarFi payment card that you can provide the biller to pay the monthly tab.

StellarFI’s auto-connect feature lets you quickly update your payment method with most national brands. You can also manually link bills with merchants with whom StellarFi doesn’t have a direct relationship.

In addition to linking bills, you connect your checking account to StellarFi to pay bills. There are no additional fees to use this service, such as payment processing fees or bank transfer fees. When a bill is due, StellarFi will check your bank to ensure there are sufficient funds to pay the bill. If there aren’t sufficient funds, the bill will not be paid.

Improve Your Credit Score

By paying your bills through StellerFi, you establish a positive payment history, as you would with a credit builder loan. You pay your bills with the StellarFi card, which technically borrows money from StellarFi, and then StellarFi immediately withdraws the funds from your checking account to cover the payment. 

Your positive payment history will be sent to two of the major credit bureaus, Equifax and Experian.

This reporting is similar to the free service offered by Experian Boost. However, Boost only improves your Experian credit score. It won’t help you build credit with Equifax or TransUnion.

You may notice a temporary drop in your credit score when you first join StellarFi, as the line of credit appears as a new account on your credit reports. A brand-new credit account negatively impacts your average length of credit history (15% of your total credit score) and new credit factors (10% of your total score). 

You can get similar results by paying your bills with a secured or unsecured credit card. However, a credit card isn’t ideal if it encourages you to overspend or you end up paying high credit card interest rates. It also will not immediately take the money out of your checking account when you pay a bill, although you can always manually pay the card at any time.

It can also be difficult to qualify for a credit card if you have bad or fair credit.  

Other StellarFi credit-building tools include:

• Creating customized credit goals
• Credit score simulator
• Debt-to-income (DTI) calculator
• Dynamic score projections

✨ Related: How to Increase Your Credit Score

StellarFi Plan Pricing

StellarFi offers three paid plans and has no free version.

The big difference between the plans is the amount in bills that is reported as credit. You can upgrade to a higher plan to access a higher credit limit, which may help you minimize your credit utilization ratio and pay more bills.

Lite

The entry-level Lite plan costs $4.99 monthly and allows you to report up to $500 of bills as credit. Your initial line is smaller until you complete your first bill payment before it expands to $500.

With Lite, you can access other essential features, including bill pay auto-withdrawal, bill payment notifications, credit score monitoring and alerts, 1-on-1 live credit coaching, and more.

Prime

StellarFi’s mid-tier plan is called Prime, and it costs $9.99 monthly after a $0.99 trial for the first 30 days.

Up to $25,000 in bills can be reported as credit, a significant increase over the Lite plan.

Premium

StellarFi Premium is the highest-tier plan and costs $29.99 monthly, which lets you pay an unlimited number of bills.

According to StellarFi, the Premium plan will include the following exclusive benefits:

• Paying with ACH transfers (as some merchants don’t accept card payments)
• Flexible bill payment dates (Pay bills early and repay StellarFi within 60 days interest-free)
• Identity protection system (SSN monitoring, ID theft insurance and restoration, credit report dispute, and more) 

Is StellarFi Safe?

StellarFi encrypts your personal data using bank-level 256 AES security. The platform also uses randomized digital tokens and never stores your financial information. 

With that said, tech glitches do occur, and there are times when bill payments may not be completed as scheduled. If that happens, StellarFi will make it right by reimbursing any late fees and protecting your privacy.

Remember that StellarFi is a young company, so you must be comfortable dealing with a startup.

Does StellarFi Work?

You can benefit the most from StellarFi if you have a credit score in the low 600s or below.

Here are some reported results from StellarFi users on Trustpilot:

• Adrian N. reported an average 40-point increase after the first month
• Angel M. reported an average 45-point increase over 4-6 months.
• Caitlynn D. reported a 20+ points boost during the first 30 months.
• Destany B. reported a 28-point increase after the first month and zero points after the second month before leaving their review.

Remember that these are online reviewers, and their results cannot be substantiated.

Also, from Trustpilot, the most common StellarFi complaints tend to surround a lack of customer service options. Several reviews indicate that chatbots handle the initial inquiry process, and it can be difficult to reach a human. 

Ultimately, you can’t rely on StellarFi alone to strengthen your credit history. You must also focus on paying your existing loans and credit cards on time, avoiding opening new credit cards or loans and keeping existing credit card accounts open as long as possible to maximize benefits.

Credit Building Alternatives

Credit building services aren’t new, and the market is full of similar services.

Here are a few StellarFi alternatives:

Kikoff

Kikoff is a credit-building platform that offers a credit account as well as a secured credit card. The Kickoff Credit Account is a $750 credit line. Instead of paying bills, you can buy financial education products, and your payment activity reports to the three bureaus.

Two additional tools are a secured credit card and a credit builder loan. Kickoff’s Credit Service charges a flat, $5 monthly fee, but unlike some competitors, it doesn’t charge any fees for its secured card or credit builder loan product.

Here’s our full Kikoff review for more info. 

Get Started with Kikoff

CreditStrong

You can improve your personal or business credit through CreditStrong. Several credit builder loan tiers are available depending on how aggressively you want to increase your score and your monthly budget. 

Check out our CreditStrong review to compare credit-building plans.

Get Started with CreditStrong

Self

Self lets you deposit monthly payments into an FDIC-insured certificate of deposit (CD). The credit builder loan’s repayment term is as long as 24 months with a monthly commitment between $24 and $150. Each payment reports to the three major bureaus, and you are reimbursed the contribution amount at the maturity date, excluding fees.  

Additional products include a secured credit card and free rent reporting.

Read our Self Credit Builder review to find out more.

Get Started with Self

FAQs

Is It Worth It?

StellarFi is worth considering if you’re looking for a way to build or repair your credit without a secured credit card or other credit product. One of the biggest advantages of using StellarFi is that it helps you automate your finances and report your bill payments to two major credit bureaus, Experian and Equifax.

Just be mindful of the fees – unfortunately, StellarFi does not offer a free tier – and be realistic about how much StellarFi can boost your credit score. Remember that you will have to stick to sound credit-building practices, such as timely credit payments and regular budgeting, to stay on track for financial success.

Get Started with StellarFi

The post StellarFi Review 2024: Is it Worth It? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Choosing the best option will depend on several factors, including how fast you need the money and what jewelry you’re trying to sell.

	Best for	Learn more
	Best Overall	Learn more
	Quick appraisals	Learn more
	Broken jewelry	Learn more
	Fine jewelry and watches	Learn more
	Valuable jewelry	Learn more

1. Worthy

Best for: Best Overall

• Free FedEx shipping
• Diamonds are GIA-appraised
• Watches are appraised by Central Watch (NYC)
• Get paid by direct deposit, PayPal, or paper check

Worthy is an online platform dedicated to helping you sell your diamond rings and other jewelry. You can either mail your diamond ring and other jewelry with free FedEx shipping, or drop it off at select Worthy locations around the U.S. Your shipment is fully insured by Lloyd's of London.

Your jewelry is graded, and Worthy prepares your item for auction. Diamonds undergo the industry-leading GIA appraisal, and Central Watch in New York City appraises watches.

Worthy lets you set a minimum price, and some items may qualify for a price guarantee. Seller fees start at 18% for items that sell for $5,000 and can be as low as 10% if your item sells for more than $30,001. Your payment options are direct deposit, PayPal, and paper check after your item sells.

Worthy has auctioned off millions of dollars in diamonds on its platform and has experience selling fine jewelry priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The company is a big player in the space, can move quickly (big auction houses may take at least 6 months) and may have lower fees – plus you only pay a fee if the item sells.

It’s possible to sell these fine jewelry items on Worthy:

You may be able to earn more with Worthy than selling locally because you get access to over 1,000 motivated buyers. However, how much you make can be unpredictable as you won’t know if your auction will attract few bids or become very competitive. That said, you can look at recent listings to get an idea of how much you can make at auction.

To learn more, read our full review of Worthy Jewelry.

2. Cash for Gold USA

Best for: Quick appraisals

• Appraisals can be as quick as 24 hours
• The minimum karat for gold jewelry is 8k
• Free shipping via FedEx
• Receive payment by check, bank wire, or PayPal

Cash for Gold USA is one of the best places to sell gold, silver, or platinum jewelry online. You can even sell dental scrap when it doesn’t contain bone or porcelain. The minimum karat for gold jewelry is 8k.

You can ship your items to them for free via FedEx, and they include insurance up to $5,000. Cash for Gold USA provides an appraisal within 24 hours of receiving your jewelry. You can accept the offer and receive payment by check, bank wire, or PayPal.

Cash for Gold USA mails your jewelry back for free if you decline their offer.

Visit Cash for Gold USA

3. Cash for Diamonds USA

Best for: Broken jewelry

• Appraisals within 24 hours
• GIA-appraisal standards
• Broken jewelry doesn't lower appraisal value

Cash for Diamonds USA is the sister site to Cash for Gold USA. CJ Environmental Inc., a self-described leader in precious metals refining, is the same parent company for both platforms.

You can get free shipping and an appraisal within 24 hours. The appraisers use the industry-leading GIA appraisal standards. The carat, clarity, cut, and color of the diamond determine how much you make.

Cash for Diamonds USA returns your jewelry for free if you reject their offer for these diamond pieces:

• Wedding bands
• Loose diamonds
• Gold jewelry

Your diamonds can be any size, and broken jewelry doesn’t lower the appraisal value. This merchant can be a good alternative to visiting a local gold and diamond exchange store.

Visit Cash For Diamonds USA

4. The RealReal

Best for: Fine jewelry and watches

• Online luxury consignment shop
• Receive 75% of the final sale value for watches $2,000 to $4,999 (Trendsetter status)
• Receive up to 70% of the final sale value for jewelry $750 and over (Trendsetter status)

Fine jewelry and watches are two of the many items you can sell on The RealReal, an online luxury consignment shop. You may prefer this option if you don’t want to sell your jewelry in an auction but want a better price than what precious metal recyclers offer.

TheRealReal sets the sales prices using data points from recent sales of similar items. You keep up to 70% of the sales price for jewelry that sells for $750 or more. Watches selling for at least $2,500 let you pocket 75% of the final value price.

Visit The RealReal

5. Sotheby’s

Best for: Valuable jewelry

• Ideal for selling rare or highly valuable jewelry
• Submit pictures for a preliminary estimate
• Work with a dedicated specialist

Sotheby’s is the best option for selling rare or highly valuable jewelry. You can sell your gold and diamond pieces at auction or privately. The best choice will depend on the estimated value of your jewelry.

Sotheby’s requires you to send pictures of your items for a preliminary estimate. If your jewelry meets their standards, a specialist will appraise and sell it for you.

Visit Sotheby’s

Where to Sell Jewelry Locally

Selling your jewelry to a local buyer is likely your quickest option. You can visit your local jewelry buyer and walk out with payment. If you don’t like one local offer, you can easily compare rates with another local store or try selling your jewelry online.

Jewelry Stores

Local jewelry stores will often buy used jewelry. This should be one of the first places to consider (locally) because they may be able to give you the best price. You'll also want to stick with locally owned jewelry stores as they are more likely to provide you with cash rather than store credit. They don't always have the best price, though.

Much like how you can get more items on eBay than at a garage sale, local supply and demand sometimes affect how much you get for your jewelry. It's convenient, but you may not necessarily get the best price. Most local places want to sell that jewelry, so they consider that.

Check out the American Gem Society for local stores that buy jewelry.

Pawn Shops

Even if your town doesn't have a fine jewelry store, it likely has a pawn shop.

Jewelry stores will only buy high-demand items like necklaces, gold rings, and diamonds. But pawn shops will buy pretty much anything, including specialty pieces like watches, costume jewelry, and trendy collections such as Pandora.

You will not get as much for your jewelry at a pawn shop as at a local jewelry store. Pawn shop shoppers expect ultra-low prices, and the buyers need to account for some profit margin for themselves.

However, jewelry stores and pawn shops should appraise your gold jewelry using the current London Fix prices.

Gold Exchange Stores

You've probably seen store signs stating, “We buy gold” during your daily commute. These signs are usually for gold and silver exchange stores.

The good news about exchange stores is they accept almost anything with precious metals and diamonds. You can even sell gold bullion and collectible coins for cash. This option can also be an excellent alternative to pawn shops, so comparing offers is worth the effort.

Gold exchange stores will likely pay you the scrap value for your gold, diamonds, silver, and platinum.

Scrap value is less than the market value for the jewelry piece, as the buyer is likely looking to melt your jewelry down to make a new piece. However, upfront payment can be better than finding a buyer who wants to expand their Black Hills Gold collection.

Call and compare the purchase prices if several exchange stores are in your town.

Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace

You can always try selling your jewelry yourself to make more money. Jewelry stores and pawn shops must pay you a low amount so they can profit. It’s free to list your items on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or selling apps, and you can charge less than your local stores.

Getting an official appraisal for your jewelry can help you earn more money, as you can verify its authenticity. The appraiser should also tell you its fair market value.

Tips for Selling Your Jewelry

Whether you sell your jewelry locally or online, here are some suggestions for getting the most money for your gold and diamonds.

Get an Independent Appraisal

Any legitimate jewelry vendor will appraise your jewelry to make an offer. While many vendors are trustworthy, you should get an independent appraisal first to compare appraisal values.

Many jewelers provide free appraisals. However, you may need to pay several hundred dollars to receive an official report to keep for your records.

Knowing how much your jewelry is worth gives you a better idea of where to sell it. For example, you may try selling valuable pieces at an auction. However, to make money quickly, it may be better to save time and sell lower-quality jewelry for scrap value.

Know the Jewelry Details

You should know as much about the jewelry you’re trying to sell as possible. The more details you know, the better idea you'll have of the material and market value of your jewelry.

Pay attention to these appraisal details:

1. Diamond carat size, cut, color, and clarity
2. Gold karat rating and weight
3. Jewelry manufacturer
4. Know if the material is natural or artificial (i.e., cubic zirconium)

Summary

There are plenty of places to sell jewelry locally and online. How much you make depends on the quality of your piece and where you try to sell it. Getting multiple quotes from online and local merchants can help you find the best price, so do your homework.

If you need help selling other stuff, this article explains the best places to sell your non-jewelry items.

Having official papers from the manufacturer or the original proof of purchase proves the piece is legit and will help you fetch a higher sales price.

The post Where to Sell Jewelry: Best Places to Get the Most Money appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

	Best for	Learn more
	Instant cash advances	Learn more
	Earning checking rewards	Learn more
	High first-time cash advance limits	Learn more
	Cash advance and line of credit funding	Learn more
	Building credit	Learn more
	High-interest banking accounts	Learn more

1. Chime

Best For: Instant cash advances

• Cash Advance Limit: $500
• Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or $2 (instant)
• Monthly Cost: $0

Go to Chime

Chime is an online financial technology company offering a free checking account and a savings account. Enjoy cash advances of up to $500 with its MyPay feature. This limit is lower than EarnIn’s $750 maximum.

Instant deposits only cost $2 per transaction, which can be lower than EarnIn. Free standard transfers process within 24 hours.

You can also enjoy several fee-free banking features, including: 

• Overdraft protection up to $200*
• 50,000+ fee-free ATMs
• Automatic savings in a high-yield savings account
• Get paid up to 2 days early with Direct Deposit^
• Build credit with a secured Visa credit card

The banking app lets you send money to friends for free, even if they don’t use Chime. Additionally, you have 24/7 live support access.

Unfortunately, Chime’s MyPay cash advances are inaccessible in CO, CT, GA, HI, ID, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OR, SC, SD, VT, WA, WI, or WY. 

Read our Chime checking review for more.

Go to Chime

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Please see back of your Card for its issuing bank.

^Early access to direct deposit funds depends on payer.

˜Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven location, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.

*Eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply.

Need to borrow money quickly and cheaply?

Monevo is a marketplace where you can find a low-cost personal loan in just 60 seconds. Enter in how much you need (as little as $1,000 and as much as $100,000) along with your personal details and you'll get an answer in just a few minutes.

Checking will NOT affect your credit score.

Learn more about Monevo

2. Current

Best For: Earning checking rewards

• Cash Advance Limit: $500
• Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or varies (instant)
• Monthly Cost: $0 (tipping is optional)

Go to Current

Current Bank provides cash advances up to $500 without any monthly service fees, although you can leave an optional tip. Standard transfers take up to three days, which is on the slower side. Instant transfers are available and the fee depends on the advance amount. 

This is a great banking app when you want a rewards checking account with budgeting tools for the whole family. For instance, you can earn rewards points on debit purchases at over 14,000 merchants redeemable for cash back. The app also removes gas station holds and has over 40,000 in-network ATMs. 

Its teen banking access is notable too with customizable parental controls. Assigning chores, blocking merchants, and transferring money instantly is also possible. 

Other banking perks include:

• Fee-free overdraft protection up to $200
• Receive direct deposits up to two days early
• Unlimited budgets by spending category
• Savings Pods earn up to 4% annual savings boost
• Build credit with a secured credit card 

Read our Current Bank review for more.

Go to Current

3. Varo

Best For: High first-time cash advance limits

• Cash Advance Limit: $500
• Advance Fee: $1.60 to $40
• Monthly Cost: $0

Go to Varo

The Varo Money platform offers free online banking and up to $250 in first-time cash advances, which is substantially higher than the $25 to $100 limit for most. You can eventually qualify for up to $500 advances, which is the industry norm, but it remains lower than EarnIn for well-qualified earners. 

Unfortunately, Varo cash advances incur a fee between $1.60 and $40. This service is pricey. Thankfully, the funds are immediately available. You also have as long as 30 days to repay the balance which can be longer than other cash advance apps.

Other reasons to consider this service include:

• Earn up to 6% back on debit card or secured card purchases
• 40,000+ fee-free ATMs
• Receive direct deposits up to two days early
• High-interest savings account
• Free secured credit card to improve your credit score
• Free credit score tracking

Read our Varo Money review for more. 

Go to Varo

4. Empower

Best For: Cash advance and line of credit funding

• Cash Advance Limit: $300
• Advance Fee: $0 standard or $1 to 3% (instant delivery)
• Monthly Cost: $8 (after a 14-day free trial)

Go to Empower

Empower offers a $300 maximum cash advance and an instant delivery fee applies to deposit the funds in a linked banking account. Thankfully, you can effortlessly waive this fee and receive your advance within minutes to your Empower debit card. Free standard transfers typically settle within 24 hours. 

You may also be interested in the Empower Thrive line of credit, which initially ranges from $200 to $400 and gradually increases up to $1,000. Your flexible repayments help build a credit history to increase your credit score.

Since you encounter an $8 monthly subscription fee after the 14-day free trial, you will also want to take advantage of these other neobank money management features:

• Personalizable budget categories with weekly and monthly caps
• Credit monitoring
• Automatic Savings (FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through nbkc Bank, Member FDIC)

Go to Empower

5. Brigit

Best For: Building credit

• Cash Advance Limit: $250
• Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or varies by plan (Express Delivery)
• Monthly Cost: $0, $9.99, or $14.99

Go to Brigit

Consider using Brigit if you want tools to help build credit, avoid bank fees, and get cash advances up to $250. Free Instant Cash standard transfers take two or three business days. Express Delivery advances arriving within 20 minutes are available with paid memberships, although you must upgrade to the top-tier Premium plan ($14.99/month) for complimentary free express delivery.

The free membership plan pairs as a budgeting app providing financial insights to improve how you earn and save money. Expedited cash advances are unavailable and you must wait for the standard 2–3-day delivery speed instead. 

There are two paid plans with different personal finance features:

• Plus ($9.99/month): Credit score monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft protection, Instant Cash and Earn & Save money-making offers or shopping discounts.
• Premium ($14.99/month): Free Express Delivery for cash advances, credit builder loans, and Plus member benefits. 

The credit builder feature lets you set aside as little as $1 per month into a 12-month credit builder loan that can boost your score by reporting on-time payments to each credit bureau. 

Check out our Brigit review to learn more.

Go to Brigit

6. Dave

Best For: High-interest banking accounts

• Cash Advance Limit: $500
• Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or up to 5% (Express Delivery)
• Monthly Cost: $1

Go to Dave

The Dave Banking app charges a $1 monthly fee for several perks, including up to $500 in paycheck advances. Standard deliveries are free but take up to three business days to arrive in your external bank account.

Express cash advances arrive within seconds to an FDIC-insured Dave Spending account with a 3% fee or to linked debit cards within an hour for a 5% fee.  

You can also maximize your membership with the following perks:

• Interest-earning spending account (FDIC-insured up to $250,000)
• 38,000+ free ATMs
• Receive direct deposits up to 2 days early
• Automatic budgeting with high-yield savings goals
• Find side hustles

Check out these other apps like Dave with multiple money tools.

Go to Dave

How EarnIn Works

Comparing these features to the best Earnin alternatives helps you find the best mixture of tools to improve your finances:

• Cash Out: Receive up to $750 of your paycheck each pay period before payday, including up to $100 daily. 
• Balance Shield: Get alerts when you have a low bank account balance. You can use the Cash Out feature to fund your bank account.
• Tip Yourself: Automate savings of each paycheck into a free FDIC-insured account for your future goals.
• Earnin Express: Your paycheck can be deposited up to two days earlier than your current checking account.
• Credit Monitoring: View your VantageScore 3.0 by Experian and credit report at no extra cost. 

This platform is currently fee-free and doesn’t charge interest for any service. You can leave optional tips to help pay their operating expenses. Instant “Lightning Speed” deposits charge a small fee between $0.99 and $5.99. 

Your initial cash advance limit is $100. However, this threshold can increase once you establish a consistent income history and complete a minimum number of monthly activities (i.e., debit card transactions, minimum deposit thresholds, etc.). Other platforms have similar policies that incrementally increase your advance limit.

Related: Best Credit Score Apps for Monitoring Your Credit

How Do Cash Advance Apps Work?

Cash advance apps like EarnIn verify your paycheck history to determine a reasonable advance limit you can quickly repay without late fees or interest. They don’t impact your credit history and won’t check your credit score to make a funding decision.

Below is a step-by-step glimpse at how to avoid high-interest payday loans:

1. Connect direct deposit: First, you connect your banking account to the app which calculates your income history and initial advance limit. Your typical paycheck must usually be at least $300 to $1,000 to qualify. 
2. Make an initial cash advance: Most paycheck advance apps cap your first-time withdrawal between $20 and $100. Active users can qualify for a maximum limit between $500 and $750 after establishing a positive payment history. 
3. Select a repayment plan: You agree to a repayment plan before agreeing to the request and the app automatically deducts the advance amount from your next direct deposit. 
4. Choose standard or expedited funding: Standard deliveries are usually fee-free but require one and three days to receive your advance. Expedited funding typically involves a small fee to receive your money within minutes.
5. Repay the advance: The app automatically deducts the money from your upcoming paycheck, so you won’t pay late fees or interest. Multiple on-time repayments coupled with steady income allow you to qualify for higher advance limits on future requests. 

Depending on the app, you pay a monthly membership fee or can leave an optional tip if it’s a free service. 

Is There an App Similar to EarnIn?

Several excellent EarnIn alternatives exist, with paycheck advances as a core feature plus budgeting tools and fee-free banking accounts as common secondary perks. Chime is one of the most well-rounded alternatives as it has fast and affordable advances, interest-earning banking accounts, and no monthly fees.

Choosing the best EarnIn alternative is easier by utilizing these comparison factors:

• Advance limits and fees: What’s the maximum cash advance possible and how expensive are standard and expedited funding? Also, how many minutes, hours, or days does it take for your money to arrive?
• Monthly fees: Is there a monthly membership fee to join the app? Is the free version sufficient for your financial needs?
• Banking features: Most apps partner with banks to provide FDIC-insured checking accounts. You may also be able to open one of the best high-yield savings accounts to earn more interest. The in-app debit card can also help you receive your advances sooner or with reduced fees in addition to making purchases or earning cash back.
• Budget tools: The spending insights and savings planners are similar to free budgeting apps, which allow you to track your expenses and upcoming bills.
• Credit monitoring: You may be able to see your credit score for free or apply for a free secured credit card to expand your credit history with on-time payments.

Summary

There are many apps like Earnin that offer a variety of banking services. These services can make getting paid early, maximizing your purchases, and earning a high interest rate on your savings much easier. When comparing services, compare the borrowing and monthly service fees as you decide which platform best fits your money needs.

The post Apps Like Earnin: 6 Earnin App Alternatives for 2024 appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.